MBA in Finance: Where and how to study, institutes, job prospects

If you’re interested in corporate finance, money management, negotiations and investment, you can go for an MBA in Finance for a career in the finance industry. This two-year MBA course is designed to help students develop a thorough and critical understanding of financial and risk analysis.

Studying MBA in Finance

• Since this is a PG programme, you need a graduate degree from a recognised university in any relevant stream with at least 50% aggregate.
• You have to appear in national, state, or university-level MBA entrance exams, depending on the criteria mentioned by different B-schools.
• Since it is a specialised field of study, some work experience may come handy if you’re setting your eyes on the top B-schools in India.

Common MBA exams

You need to clear any or some of the following entrance exams to get admission to an MBA course:

• Common Admission Test (CAT)
• Xavier Aptitude Test (XAT)
• Graduate Management Aptitude Test (GMAT)
• Management Aptitude Test (MAT)
• Common Management Admission Test (CMAT)
• NMIMS Management Aptitude Test (NMAT) conducted by the Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC)
• Symbiosis National Aptitude Test (SNAP)
• AIMS Test for Management Admissions (ATMA)
• MAH CET for MBA admission to colleges in Maharashtra
• Karnataka PGCET for admission to MBA in Karnataka colleges

What you’ll learn in this MBA specialisation

You’ll be taught generic management subjects in the first year. From the second year onwards, however, the real focus will be on Finance. The syllabus is designed to turn you into an expert of the hottest finance topics like financial forecasts, economic trends, financial reports, risk and profitability, and investment portfolio management with a minimum risk factor.

Courses on offer at B-schools

B-schools may offer different courses as part of an MBA in Finance. Following are some of them:

• A two-year full-time MBA (Specialisation in Finance) course is offered by IIM Kozhikode under the Postgraduate Programme (PGP) in Finance.
• A general MBA (specialisation in Finance) course as part of the two-year MBA/PGDM programme is offered by top B-schools like IIM Calcutta, IIM Ahmedabad, IIM Bangalore and FMS Delhi.
• A two-year full-time MBA equivalent Postgraduate Diploma in Management (PGDM) Finance is offered by B-schools like Jamnalal Bajaj Institute of Management Sciences (JBIMS), Mumbai; S. P. Jain Institute of Management and Research (SPJIMR), Mumbai; Indian Management Institute (IMI) Delhi; IMT, multiple locations; K. J. Somaiya Institute of Management, Mumbai; and FORE School of Management, New Delhi.
• MBA in Banking & Finance/Insurance is offered by some institutes like BSE Institute Ltd and National Institute of Financial Management (NIFM) as they specialise in stock markets, banking or other related programmes. These courses are designed in the style of flagship MBA programmes.

Some top B-schools that offer an MBA degree in Finance:

• IIM Kozhikode (PGP in Finance)
• IIM Calcutta (MBA with specialisation in Finance)
• IIM Ahmedabad (PGP with specialisation in Finance)
• IIM Bangalore (MBA with specialization in Finance)
• IIM Indore (PG Certificate Programme in Finance)
• IIM Lucknow (PGP with Finance as an elective subject)
• XLRI Jamshedpur (PGDM with specialization in Finance)
• Faculty of Management Studies (FMS) Delhi (MBA with specialisation in Finance)
• Management Development Institute (MDI) Gurgaon (PGPM with specialization in Finance)
• XIMB Bhubaneswar (MBA with specialisation in Finance)
  

Some top B-schools that offer equivalent courses in Finance:

• JBIMS (MSc in Finance), Mumbai
• SPJIMR (PGDM in Finance), Mumbai
• International Management Institute (PGDM in Banking & Financial Services), New Delhi
• IMT Ghaziabad (PGDM in Banking & Finance)
• K. J. Somaiya Institute of Management Studies & Research (MBA in Financial Services), Mumbai
• FORE School of Management, (PGDM in Financial Management), New Delhi
• Lal Bahadur Shastri Institute of Management (PGDM in Research & Business Analytics), New Delhi
• IMT Nagpur (PGDM in Finance)
• T. A. Pai Management Institute (PGDM in Banking & Financial Services), Manipal

Job roles with an MBA degree in Finance:

Finance manager: They are responsible for the overall well-being of an organisation and producing financial reports, investment activities, monitoring of accounts and developing plans. These professionals also strategise and forecast long-term financial goals of the company.

Financial analyst: They ensure profitability and gains by improving the financial status of the company. They also take stock of the investments by assessing the performance of stocks, bonds and shares.

Chief financial officer: They manage the overall finances and are responsible for developing budgets, monitoring transactions and preparing financial reports.

Accounts manager: They generally head the accounts department of an organisation and oversee the day-to-day smooth running of the company by looking after accounts and money.

Credit manager and specialist: They maintain the credit policy of a company and oversee the credit-granting process. Their work involves optimising company sales and reducing bad debts.

Corporate controller: They are responsible for all accounting operations of the company. They keep a tab on the budgeting and expenditure of the company.

Investment banker: They help clients to raise money in capital markets by issuing debt or selling equity. They also play a role in mergers and acquisitions while advising the client on the best investment opportunities.

Financial consultant: They help in improving the capital efficiency of a company while increasing the shareholder value. These professionals also play a role in M&As and may be involved in the compensation strategy for employees.

Business analyst: They are responsible for pricing, analysis, budgeting, forecasting and maintaining business data. They also evaluate the acquisition, storage and analysis of data.

Operations manager: They are responsible for securing financing for company activities, managing company funds and getting payments out to creditors. They may also be involved in financial and long-term investments.